The day the NHS saved my life

December 11th is permanently etched on my mind as the day the NHS saved my life. I know this may sound rather melodramatic but four years ago I underwent surgery to remove my breast – and the cancer contained within it.

Without that surgery I wouldn’t be here now so I feel entitled to a little melodrama!

All the treatment I had subsequent to surgery was belt and braces (as the saying goes), five months of chemotherapy, a year of herceptin and ongoing tamoxifen (which will be for a minimum of ten years) all given to deal with any nasty little cancer cells that may have taken the opportunity to hide out in my body.

Each year on December 11th I have a cake to celebrate another year of life, while I reflect on how very lucky I was to find my cancer when I did and make a wish for another cake with an extra candle next year.